
< **** 



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Title 



Imprint 



7 



S^G 



COMPLETE TREATISE 



ON THE 



MARE AND FOAL, 

AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY, 

WITH 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ALSO ON 

COWS AND CALVES, 



STALLION AND MARE. 

WHEN DISEASED BY 

tjioiiorrhea (cLAr) oi POx 



ALSO 

Diarrhea and CostirCiicss Jj 




CONRAD MITCHELL 



Vplksfreuiid, Print 

Middleburg, Pa. 

1860 
V 



Entered according to an Act of Cong re*, 
in the year 1869, by 

CONRAD MITCHELL, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court 

of the United States for the Western 

District of Pennsylvania. 






INTRODUCTION. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Of all the beasts of the field, which 
we are told, the Lord formed out of the 
earth, and brought them unto Adam to 
see what he would call them, none has 
more engaged the attention of the histo- 
rian and the philosopher — none has figur- 
ed more in poetry, in war and in love, 
than the horse. 

None of the writing, to which we could 
point the reader, contains more frequent 
mention, or more glowing descriptions of 
the power and beauty of the horse, than 
the great Book of Books. 

The Bible teaches us, that from what- 
ever land this animal may have been 
originally brought into Egypt, that coun- 
try had already become a great horse 
market, even before horses were known 



INTRODUCTION 



in Arabia, the country with which we ore- 
apt to associate all that is most interest" 
ing of this noble beast. Geological re. 
searches, however, have discovered fossil 
remains of the horse in almost every part 
of the world — from the tropical plains of 
India, to the frozen regions of Siberia — 
from the northern extremities of the new 
world, to the southern point of America. 
But among the Hebrews, horses were rare 
previous to the days of Solomon, who had 
horses brought out of Egypt, after his 
marriage with the daughter of Pharaoh, 
and so rapidly did he multiply them by 
purchase and by breeding, that those 
kept for his own use required, as it is 
written, ''four thousand stables, and forty 
thousand stalls." Hence, when honored 
by a visit from the beautiful queen of 
Sheba, bringing with her, camels bearing 
spices, and very much gold and precious 
stones, it was doubtless in the contemplat- 
ion of his magnificent stud of horses and 
chariots, kept for the amusement of his 
wives and concubines, as well as for his 
other vast displays of power and magni- 
ficence, that her majesty exclaimed, in 



INTRODUCTION. 



the fulness of her admiration : "How- 
beit, I believed notthe words, until I came 

and mine eyes had seen it, and behold 
the half was not told unto me." 

Veterinary science has also made great 
progress from that time down to the pre- 
sent, and in particular, in the last half 
century, the structure of the horse — in- 
juries and diseases to which lie is subject, 
and the treatment of these, have been 
investigated, in this country and abroad, 
with much diligence and success, both in 
colleges and in societies devoted to the 
cultivation of veterinary knowledge, and 
by practitioners, whose education and ex- 
perience render their observations worthy 
of great respect ; but notwithstanding all 
this, then.' has always been, to the present 
time, one point overlooked, which is of 
greater importance, than any one thai 
has ever been investigated. I refer here 
to a complete treatise on the Mare and 
Foal at the time of delivery. This has 
long been felt as a real want. Not a sin- 
gle engraving, illustrating this subject 
has ever been handed to the public, and 
very little has been written on the treat- 



t) VXTHOLl'tTIOX, 



ment of the mare and the fonl at the time 
of deliver)-. When the best authors come 
to this point, they say, "call in a veteri- 
nary Surgeon." But, I would ask, where 
is the veterinary Surgeon to obtain his 
information ? And yet, not only the sur- 
geon, but every farmer and breeder should 
possess a full knowledge of it 

The man that first enters the stable 
should be able to administer to the wants 
of the mare and the foal. There is no 
time to be lost — no time now to obtain 
information, or to proceed four or five 
miles for a surgeon. If all is right, in 
five minutes all will be well, but if a false 
position is presented, the first person that 
approaches the animal should be able to 
administer to the wants of thc # marean<i 
foal. If not, there is much danger for 
the life of the foal, and in a few hours 
much danger is tobe feared for the safety 
of the mare. 

I have had a very extensive practice in 
the veterinary business for more than 
nineteen years, and found it almost uni- 
versally to be the case, that in the event 
of mal-presentation, the foal had suflb- 



INTRODUCTION . 



Gated before I could reach the spot, al- 
though I was but a very few miles distant. 
If the foal is raised from its locality, it 
must be exposed to the free atmosphere 
in twenty minutes or it will suffocate, and 
the life of the mare will be much in dan- 
ger. Often, after I had extracted the 
foal, I could have obtained twenty 
dollars for restoring its life. 

I have frequently been urged by far- 
mers and breeders, to give them full in- 
structions on this subject, and especially, 
at such times, when a difficult case pre- 
sented itself, but I always found it im- 
practicable, as verbal instruction would 
soon be forgotten, and as no work, illus- 
trating this subject was in existence. I 
was induced, therefore, in order to bene- 
fit the farmer and breeder, to publish 
a complete treatise on the marc and foal, 
at the time of delivery; illustrated by 
engravings. I had made an effort about 
seven years ago, but that little instrument 
the "pen," in my hand, is what the yoke 
is to the ox, and so I abandoned it for 
(hat time. The cart- whip in my hand is 
a tine instrument, but the pen is my ab- 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

horrcnce* Notwithstanding, at the earnest 
request of numerous dealers in horses, I 
was induced in the Spring of 1869, to 
offer this work to the public, for the ben- 
efit of the farmer and breeder, and in 
mercy to the mare and foal. 

This work, as the reader will discover, 
embraces every particular connected with 
the subject upon which it treats* with am- 
ple engravings, illustrating the different 
positions in which a foal is presented — its 
natural delivery — i'alse presentations, etc., 
with lucid explanations and instruction.. 
CONK AD MITCHELL. 

New Berlin, Pa., July, ISG'J, 



ME MARK 



PLATE I. 




The above Engraving represents the 

Foal, as it is folded up in the womb of 
the Marc when fully developed, in the 
right flank of' the animal, the chest of 



JO THE MAKE 

the Foal toward the tail of the Mare, the 
front legs turned backwards, and the hind 
legs turned forward under the body of 
the Foal, the head and neck turned back 
in its left side, so that the head will rest 
on the first false ribs. From the time of 
covering the Mare, to the time of foaling, 
generally requires a period of three hun- 
dred ami thirty days. A few instances, 
however, came under my observation, in 
which fine, full-grown, and healthy colts 
were delivered in three hundred and 
twelve days, while others delayed 1 their 
appearance for a period of three hundred 
and ninety days, before the owner could 
rejoice in the valuable prize brought to- 
his stable. The full chested, round trunk- 
cd mare will develope a foal much soon- 
er than the flat-sided, lean and camel- 
backed one. 

In nine days after the covering of the 
mare, the womb will begin to close about 
fifteen inches from the entrance ; at the 
same time, the fecund seed of the horse 
Avill change into bloody streaks, and the 
balance becomes like cream on curdled 
milk about six hours after it is strained, 



AND FOAL. 1 1 

and in from forty to fifty day:;, the foal 
will be regularly shaped, and about the 
size of a small rat. At the same time a 
membrane or skin will spread around the 
^entrance inside of the womb, from which 
a number of small cords branch out, uni- 
! together as they run along, until they 
form one cord, extending to the navel 
of the foal, through which the blood of 
the marc circulate* in the foal, in order 
f<> give it nourishment. At the same 
time another membrane or skin is formed 
around .the foal, in which are contained 
from four to six, jind even eight quarts of 
yellowish iKiid, which answers a twomld 
purpose: first, it prevents all friction 
between the foal and membrane, and se- 
condly, it assists in raising the foal from 
its locality. At the first throes of the 
mare, the action of the womb will cause 
the membrane or skin to protrude through 
the entrance of the womb, and the fluid 
will be forced into it, and the weight will 
assist in raising the foal, until it will be 
presented when the skin will break and 
the channel will be oponed for the foal 
to breath. 



12 



THE MARE 



PLATE II. 




The above Engraving presents the na- 
tural position of the foal in delivery. 
The two front feet will be presented first, 
and the muzzle or the nostrils will rest on 



AND FOAL. 43 

the top of the legs, and the membrane 
or skin around the foal, spoken of in Plate 
T, will already protrude about two feet 
The hind legs will sink down more and 
more, until they will he stretched out be- 
hind horizontally. Sometimes one foot 
will raise up too high and be forced a- 
gainst the inside of the entrance. The 
hand should be introduced and the foot 
pushed back a few inches and then brought 
back into the channel. Sometimes the 
forehead will project against the upper 
part of the entrance, when the hand 
should be introduced, and hold should be 
taken back of the poll, with a downward 
pressure, the other hand to the muzzle to 
raise it up, and a gentle pull should be 
made, when all will be right in a few 
minutes. The cord running to the navel 
of the colt should be tied about one inch 
from the surface of the skin, then cut oft' 
about one inch from the string, or if no 
string is at hand, the cord should be press- 
ed very tightly between the thumb and 
the two first fingers of the hand for a few 
minutes, then cut off, and it will bleed no 
more. The colt should be drawn awav 



14 THE MART. 

a few feet, but not toward the mure, as 
she should not be disturbed. The mare 
will lie down flat, apparenly dead, and 
will remain in this situation, five, ten, 
and even sometimes thirty minutes, ac- 
cording to the severity of the operation 
she has undergone. Suddenly she will raise 
her head, look .about the stable, lie down 
again, and roll three or four times on her 
back, but never over her back, which is 
done for the purpose of loosening the 
membrane or lining of the womb spoken 
of in Plate I, when she will rise up, go 
after her offspring, lick and dry it, after 
which the membrane -and the afterbirth 
will be discharged. When the colt is 
dry, it should be assisted to its mother to 
• obtain nourishment. 

Sometimes the membrane attached to 
the womb will remain fast, and in this 
manner retain the afterbirth. In this ease, 
bleeding from three to four quarts, and 
giving following dose of medicine in one 
pint of flaxseed tea is recommended, viz : 
1 oz. Laudanum, 
1 oz. sweet Spirits of JS'iter. 

This will correct everything in a few 



AND FOAL. 15 

hours- In some extreme eases, the mem- 
brane, the afterbirth and the fluid con- 
tained with the foal remained in the womb 
after a complete separation from the womb, 
causing such a strong innamation, that 
some parts had began to mortify. I have 
bled copiously, and given one large ta- 
ble-spoonful of fever medicine, compo- 
sed of 

4 oz. of Nitre, 

* " " Digitalis, 

\ " " Tartar Emetic, 
in one pint of Linseed tea, every three 
hours, and by means of a sj ringe, or 
bladder, with a clean piece of elder tied 
in the neck, I have injected into the womb 
from four to six quarts of Linseed tea, 
which caused a copious discharge of bloody 
matter from the womb, amounting some- 
times to a bucket full. In extraordinary 
eases, the purifying organs were overpow- 
ered and the mortified blood was carried 
through the whole system, and even then 
the marc recovered to a certain degree, 
until in about a week afterwards her 
hoofs came off, caused by the mortified 
blood, and she was accordingly destroyed. 



16 



THE MAKE 



PLATE III. 




The above Engraving represents a i'alde 
presentation. The two fore itet are pre- 
sented, and the head remains behind in 
the right flank of the mare. The opera- 



AND FOAL. 17 

tor will be able to tell whether they arc 
the front or hind feet, by examining the 
knee joints. Now, a bowl containing two 
or three quarts of very warm water, with 
a large tablespoonful of very fine lard or 
linseed oil on the surface of the water, 
should be at hand. Under no circum- 
stances should a hand or arm be introduc- 
ed to the mare, unless first thoroughly 
warmed and greased, otherwise they are 
rank poison to the mare. After the arm 
is prepared, the fingers and thumb should 
be brought to a point, and should be in- 
troduced, following the channel, until the 
neck of the foal is reached at Fig. 1, when 
the full right hand should grasp the neck, 
the left hand being supported against the 
mare, when the operator should pull with 
all his strength, in order to draw the neck 
further up, when the hand should pass 
down along the neck, still drawing as it 
passes along, until reaching Fig. 2. the 
ear, when he can make good progress, 
until he can insert the middle finger in 
the eye, at which point he is able to raise 
the muzzle, Fig. 3, so far, that he may 
close his hand over it, and in a minute, 



18 TT?E SlARt 

all will be right in the operation. But 
let no one suppose, that this is accom- 
plished in ten or fifteen minutes. Some- 
times it may, but in many instances, I 
have labored for an hour, and even two- 
and a half hours. In some cases, the 
severe exertion, and the heat of the mare, 
caused my arterial circulation to force so 
powerfully in my arm, that I was often 
afraid my veins would burst ; in this 
ease I would withdraw my arm for a min- 
ute or two, and then go to work again. In 
my entire practice, I have failed but in 
three cases, that of two mares and one 
eow, to accomplish my object. I was of- 
ten called, where two,- three, and even 
four men had been summoned before me, 
owing to the distance I lived away, and 
succeeded in every instance where others 
failed. I resolved not to fail in any case, 
but this determination proved disastrous 
to myself, inasmuch,, as I became subject 
to palpitation of the heart, so that I could 
not follow my business for more thai* 
twelve years,. 



AND FOAL. 



119 



PLATE IV 




Of the cases represented in Plate III., I 
had a large number ; of such as are pre- 
vented in Plate IV, only a few, of which 
J will describe onlv one. On the 1 3th 



2D the make 

of June, 1854, I was called to the premi- 
ses of Mr. George Braucher, in Hartley 
township, Union county. 

In this case the hand and arm must be 
prepared, as already described, and insert 
ed to the elbow, Fig. 1. A great amount of 
force is required to raise the leg, until the 
knee joint is brought up. The left hand 
should then be warmed and greased by 
an assistant, and introduced, placing it 
on the knee-joint ; the right hand should 
then be passed down, grasp the foot, and 
tarn it backwards, when the left hand 
should press inward with great force, and 
with the right hand bring up the foot, 
keeping it turned backwards. When the 
foot is brought up, a rope should be at- 
tached to the lower jaw of the foal, when 
an assistant should take hold of the rope 
and pull in a slightly downward direc- 
tion ; in this way the foal will be deliv- 
ered with the greatest ease. Sometimes 
one shoulder will present itself, and the 
other will incline a little to the rear. Un- 
der such circumstances, too much force 
should not be employed; the foal should 
be turned sometimes from right to left, 



AND FOAL 21 

and then again from left to right, fre- 
quently introducing the hand, and mov- 
ing it around the foal. In all cases the 
membrane or skin should be kept in its 
proper position around the foal, as this 
will greatly assist the work, and make it 
one of comparative ease. 

In the above case, the foal presented 
itself in the afternoon of the 12th, and 
all the knowing men of the neighborhood 
were summoned, and all of them labor- 
ed until night, when they were obliged to 
give it up and pronounce it a failure. — 
The next morning a messenger was sent 
for me. I arrived at the spot at half past 
ten o'clock, in the morning, and at twelve 
o'clock noon, I had the object accom- 
plished, and we sat down to a hearty din- 
ner. In December 1868, the mare was 
still alive. 



>>•) 



THE MARK 



PLATE Y 




th& the :>0 1 k day of April, 185-3, vflien 
about ready to retire to bed after a hard 
day's $rive, two messengers, Mr. B. Cra- 
mer, from Middlecreck, and Mr. Uriah 



AND FOAL. 2*y 

Berger, from Centre township, arrived at 
my house together. After some consid- 
eration, I concluded to accompany Mr. 
Berger, and on arriving, I found a foal, 
having presented itself as represented in 
the preceding Engraving. Before my arri- 
val, three men had exerted all their 
strength for an hour or more, to extract 
it, but having failed, they left before my 
arrival 

In this case, the mare is very restless, 
repeatedly rising up and lying down a- 
gain. It will require one man to attend 
to the head of the mare, and two men 
must take hold of the foal, raise it tip 
toward the tail of the mare, and bear in- 
wards with all their strength, when the 
operator must put all his force to one of 
the hind feet, and push that in at full 
arm's length ; the other side must be 
treated in the same manner. But let 
each one bear in mind, when the foal is 
moved inward, the mare will have pain 
and that she will bear towards you, so that 
sometimes but little is accomplished. 

We labored faithfully from eleven 
o'clock until one, when i took a mid- 



24 THE MA UK 

night meal and departed for Middlecre^k 
township. 

In some cases of the above kind, how- 
ever, I had accomplished my object in 
much less time, than in this one. 



AND FOAL. lO 



PLATE VI. 



On the 5th of May, 1855, I was called 
to the premises of John Deabler, in Beaver 
township, Snyder county, where I found 
a fonl presenting the tail, as represented 



26 THK MARE 



in Plate VI. Presentations of this kind 
occur but rarely. In this case the opera- 
tor must prepare his hand and arm as be- 
fore stated, and introdnce it, taking hold 
over the stifle-joint at Fig. 1, then, by 
a strong effort, pull upward slipping his 
hand down to Pig. 2, when he must draw- 
up the knee-joint as far as possible; then 
place the left hand on the knee joint, and 
pass the right hand down to Fig. 3, the 
foot, grasp it firmly, and l>end it back- 
ward, at the same time pulling upward, 
and with left the hand bearing inward, 
when the foot will yield in a moment. 
The other side must be dealt with in the 
tame manner. 



AX1> l'OAI.. 



PLATE VII. 




The above Engraving represents the 
ibal with the hind feet foremost. They 
will generally be projected against the 
upper part of the entrance. It is be*t 



28 THE MARE 



to extract them in this position, as turn- 
ing them. is almost impossible. The head 
will remain so far behind, that it cannot 
be reached. By keeping the membrane 
or skin properly over the foal, there will 
be but little difficulty experienced in ex- 
tracting it The foal should sometimes 
be drawn downward toward the feet of 
the mare, and then upwards towards, 
the tail, frequently turning it half way 
round, and then back again. The foal 
will necessarily be dead. 

Many cases of this kind will occur in 
•a neighborhood in the course of twenty 
vears. 



AND FOAL. 



29 



PLATE VIIL 




The above Engraving represents a foal 
which has died from some cause or other 
about nine days ago, the mare wanting 
tho proper pains to deliver it. The foal 



-jO thi: maim: 

is now bloated to such an extent, that it 
is in a condition to rupture the womb, 
and the hand can notjbe passed around 
the foal. It is an utter impossibility to 
extract it in the usual way. The opera- 
tor must procure a knife, very straight in 
the blade, from twelve to fifteen inches 
in length, wrap the whole blade in a piece 
of muslin, take the point of the knife in 
his left hand, turning the edge downward, 
put his hand in the entrance of the womb 
and run it down until he reaches the 
chest of the foal. He must then intro- 
duce the right hand, grasp the handle, 
and hold it firm ; then with the left hand 
lie will slip the muslin from the blade, 
and with the first linger of the left hand 
find the spot where the windpipe come* 
out of the chest. After the point of the 
knife is set, the right hand must force 
the blade, to its full length if possible, 
through the Diaphragm, and then with- 
draw it. The left hand must retain its 
hold upon the muslin during the entire 
operation, and as the blade is witdrawn 
from the foal, it must again be earelully 
wrapped around the knife, the left hand 



\>M> FOAL $1 

seizing the point in the same manlier as 
when it was introduced. After the arm 
holding the knife i.-< withdrawn, a very 
nauseous gas will escape, and in a short 
time the front feet may be reached, then 
the head, after which the operation will 
proceed as described in the foregoing 
page. . 



;V2 



THE 31 A TIE 



PLATE IX, 




On the 20th day of May, 1854, I wan 
railed to the field of Mr. Sein Schoch, of 
New Berlin, Union county, Pa., where 1 
found a mare in the act of foaling, in 



A.\"t> FOAL. 

which the foal presented the four feet at 
once. These eases are of rare occurrence, 
and it is well for the veterinary Surgeon, 
or his life would be a brief one. I nev- 
er injured myself at any work to a great- 
er extent, than I did in treating these 
cases. 

Sometimes the hoofs will only protrude 
from the entrance, leaving the whole 
body of the foal in a curved position 
the head being turned backward, as des- 
cribed in the foregoing Engraving. The 
head should be brought forward, but I 
always found it impossible in every case 
of this description, to accomplish this. 
A cord must be looped around the hind 
legs, to avoid losing them ; then the four 
legs must be put back again as far as 
possible, and the foal must be turned, in 
order to get the head down and the back 
up. 

If an effort was made to extract the 
foal as it is presented, the back would 
come in below, and the operation would 
be impossible ; but if it is properly turn- 
ed, it may be extracted in the same man- 
ner, as those which present only the hind 



THE MARE 



feet, as already described. These cases 
require more aid than any others that I 
have ever treated. Two or three men are 
should take hold of the mare's head and 
neck, to keep her down, otherwise she 
will plunge about fearfully. One or two 
men should assist the Surgeon, as the ef- 
fort required for this operation is so great 
that one man is soon exhausted. 

Two and three hours are often required 
to accomplish the object in these cases, 
but I have succeeded in every one of them 
in preserving the mare alive. 



THE COW 



35 



THE COW AND CALF. 




The average period of gestation in the 



:;P> the cow 

cow is 270 days ; the shortest 120 days ? 
and the longest 313 days. The calf is 
placed in the same position, and in the 
same side of the cow, as is the foal in the 
mare. Mai -presentations of calves are 
treated in the same manner as thase of 
the foal, with this advantage, that calves 
will live much longer than the foal. I 
have had cases, where I extracted the 
calf twenty-four hours after they were 
raised, and delivered them alive and 
sound. 

About two weeks before calving, the 
cow should have, in addition to her ordi- 
nary food, a half pint of rye, evening 
and morning, as that is a sure means of 
taking the cleaning right after the deliv- 
ery of the calf. Should this be neglect- 
ed, she should be slopped with two quarts 
of wheat bran and half a teacupful of 
flaxseed, twice a day. If the cleaning 
does not come off' on the third day, it 
should be twisted back of the cow's shape, 
until it becomes a solid cord, when a 
small knife enclosed in the hand should 
be introduced into the womb, and the cord 
cut off about fifteen inches from the en- 



AND CALF. 37 

trance. This is about all that -will in- 
commode the cow ; the other will pass 
off about the ninth day, and the cow will 
be all right. Should the cow have in- 
flammation in the udder, or any other 
place, she should be drenched with one 
lb. of Epsom Salts. The horns should 
be examined, and if they are sometimes 
warm and then cold again, a hole should 
be bored through them, about two inches 
from the head, and the back of the cow 
should be fomented with very strong salt- 
water ; the tail should be slit on both 
sides about an inch and a .half In ex- 
treme cases a charge should be boiled, 
and spread on the loins, consisting of 

1 pint of tar, 

2 oz. Rosin, 

2 oz. Beeswax. 

After the charge is spread on, it should 
be covered with tow or wool. 

Calves will sometimes, on account of 
the cow's milk being burned, have a se- 
vere Diarrhea. When this is the case they 
should be drenched with milk from the 
cow, containing one large tablespoonful 



38 THE cow. 



of wheat flour, and half a teaspoonful of 
finger. Should this not be sufficient, 
opium may be added to it the size of two 
Grains of wheat. 



CLAP OR POX. 41 



CLAP OR POX. 



On the 7th day of June, 1853, a Stal- 
lion was brought under my observation, 
owned by Christian Kerr, of Centre town- 
ship, then Union county, which had ten 
distinct ulcers on his penis, varying in 
size from a pea to a dime. These ulcers 
were accompanied with a discharge, some- 
times bloody, emitting a very disagreea- 
ble odor, that was perceptible at a dis- 
tance of three or four rods. The attend- 
ant of this horse, noticed these ulcers 
about five days previous to the time I was 
consulted, when the marks were very 
small. He remarked to me, that "peo- 
ple declined to allow his horse to cover 
their mares, stating, that he was diseased 
with the pox." And I actually found 
this to be the case. I dressed the horse, 
and seut him a way. 

That night I examined all the works 



42 CLAP 

veterinary Science that I could command^ 
and found but a single one that made the 
least mention of the disease, but giving 
neither the cause or treatment of it. 

In less than a week, I had over twenty 
mares to attend, that were affected by 
the horse. 

I treated the horse and mares accord- 
ing to the best of my judgment, having 
first obtained the advice of an eminent 
human Physician, and I soon became 
perfect master of the disease, and saved 
all but two mares that were placed under 
my care. I found, that where the dis- 
ease had taken deep root and entered the 
system, every effort to save the animal 
was in vain, and hence, I am satisfied, 
that where the disease has been suffered 
to go unchecked, until it became so deep- 
ly rooted as to vitiate the whole system, 
it is incurable. 



\>n pox. 



CAUSE, 



43 



Mares will sometimes get in .seasou. 
'early in the spring, when they will dis- 
charge a thin, whitish fluid, resembling 
bluish milk, of a glutinous nature, but 
very clean. If the mare does not be- 
come pregnant until the latter part of 
May or the beginning of June, this fluid 
will change into a mattery state, and will 
affect the parts in the region of the womb 
to such an extent as to cause rawness and 
inflammation. 

A mare, that, is in a condition as des- 
cribed above, is very apt to communicate 
to the horse covering her, the disease of 
Oonnorhcea, or Clap, especially if such 
horse be permitted to cover from five, 
twelve and fifteen mares a day, where 
another horse, covering only once every 
few days will escape unharmed. The 
reason of this is evident; the penis of 



44 CLAP OK POX. 

the one covering so many mares, becomes 
very tender and almost transparent, so 
as almost to cause the blood to shine 
through it. 

Another instance in which a horse is 
apt to become diseased, is, when he is 
suffered to cover a mare on the ninth day 
after she has undergone the process of 
foaling. At this period there is still a 
a discharge of bloody matter, which is 
very apt to generate clap in an animal of 
the opposite sex. 



DISEASES, &C. 45 

DESCRIPTION OF DISEASE. 



Sometimes there will appear on the 
penis of the Stallion, small white blotch- 
es, on the surface of the skin, from the 
size of a pins head to that of a grain of 
wheat, which, on the following day will 
be double in size. On the third or fourth 
day, a pea might be set in the ulcers, 
which will emit an offensive odor, and 
which will spread with great rapidity. 

In the mare blotches will appear on 
the shape, of a deep red color, apparent- 
ly eaten through the surface of the skin, 
which will enlarge very rapidly. In a 
day or two, small tumors will appear, 
extending from the shape in a downward 
direction to the hams. These tumors are 
of different sizes, varying from that of a 
pea to that of a half gallon crock. They 
a re of a very virulent nature, very oft- 
en causing a painful rawness in the en- 
t ranee to the womb, and exfpndinir from 
one to one and a half inches. 



4f) TREATMENT, 



TREATMENT, 



The Stallion should be brought out to 
a fence, and a mare should be placed on 
the other side of the fence, distant about 
one rod. This will cause the Stallion to 
present his penis. A clean crock should 
be in readiness, containing two ounces of 
chloride of lime, and two quarts of luke- 
warm water. There should also be on 
hand a teacup, containing a stem of ni- 
trate of silver one fourth of an inch in 
length, which should be pulverized and 
dissolved in tablespoonful of water. An- 
other teacup should be at hand, contain- 
ing one teaspoonful of tincture of myrrh. 

In the crock there should be a sponge 
the size of an ordinarv apple, with a 
small stick tied to it. Each of the cups 
should be provided with a small pencil, 
made of soft muslin, about the size of a 
quill. 

The operator should now draw on a 
t,\ui' of leather gloves, and siezo the penis 



TREATMENT. 47' 

at the point with the left hand, and with 
the right hand, take the sponge and wash 
off the whole penis, from one end to the 
other. Then stir up the cup containing 
the nitrate of silver, take the pencil and 
anoint all the spots or marks on the pe- 
jus ; then follow with the tincture of 
myrrh. 

This operation should be accomplished 
in less than fifteen minutes, and the ap- 
plication should be made twice a day. 

The mare should be brought out with a 
blind bridle and collar on, and tied with 
the head to a post. The tail should be 
doubled up and a rope looped around it r 
and it should be drawn on the back and 
the rope tied to the collar. Then the 
whole shape should be washed off with 
the solution of chloride of lime ; then 
anoint the marks with the nitrate of sil- 
ver, and also with the tincture of myrrhs 
At each operation these preparations 
should be introduced about one and half 
inches within the shape. 

Should any tumors have made their 
appearance, they must be dressed in tin 
same manner. If thev are large and 



48 TREATMENT. 



soft, they should be cut open and then 
dressed in the same way. 

The foregoing disease has sometimes re- 
appeared in other animals for four years 
following my treatment of the above cases 
but by always bringing them promptly 
to my notice, I succeeded invariably in 
checking it, so that it never came to the 
same state as before. 



COSTIVENESS. 49 



COSTIVENESS IN COLTS. 



Sometimes colts which are foaled early 
in the Spring, owing to the dry food of 
the mare, will become so costive, that 
they will inevitably die, if not relieved. 
As a general thing, this costiveness is 
confined to the rectum. 

To relieve the colt, it should be drench- 
ed with half a teacupful of milk from the 
mare, which should contain Barbadoes 
Aloes, the size of a grain of corn, pul- 
verized, and about an equal amount of 
ginger, every six hours ; at the same time 
an injection should be prepared, as fol- 
lows : take one quart of wheat bran, and 
pour on it three quarts of boiling water. 
When cold draw off the liquid, add one 
^teacupful of sweet milk, half a teacupful 
of molasses. Then by means of a syringe 
inject this composition into the rectum. 
Or, if a syringe cannot be procured, a 



U& COSTlVENfeS. 

bladder with a clean piece of elder tied! 
in the neck of it may be introduced into- 
the rectum. In a few minutes after, a 
finger should be inserted in the rectum r 
when a small ball of excrement may be 
taken out, about the size of a hickory- 
nut. I have often taken out twelve and 
fourteen such balls in the course of twen- 
ty minutes. After this no more medicine 
is needed. 



DIARKHCEA. ~>1 



diarrhcea. 



Sometimes, the mare being fed tew 
strong on rye chop feed, corn., or mow- 
b u rued oats, or being overworked, the 
milk gets too strong, causing a very severe 
diarrhoea in the colt. This will so much 
exhaust the colt, that it will die in a 
week or two. 

Treatment. — If occasioned by feed- 
ing rye chop, or any of the above named 
causes, discontinue the use of them, and 
substitute good oats and hay, and give 
the colt, in half a teacupful of milk from 
the mare : 

One tableopoonful of wheat flour, 

Opium, the size of two grains of wheat. 

Ginger, half a teaspoon ful, 
every six hours, until it will sere. Should 
the colt have pain, which will be exhibit- 
ed by lying down and attempting to roll 
en its back, and groaning incessantly, the 



52 DIARRHCKA. 



the treatment should be changed. Take 
half a teacupful of milk from the mare, 
One large teaspoonful of laudanum, 
" " " sweet spirits nitre, 

" " " spirits turpentine, 

every three hours, until relief is obtained. 
Or, boil very strong mint tea, and give 
two large tablespoonfuls every hour un- 
til relieved. 



FEEBLE COLTS. 53 



FEEBLE COLTS. 



Sometimes colts are very feeble when 
foaled. The cause may be attributed to 
the atmosphere, or rather to an epidemic 
peculiar to some localities. Many are 
brought forth so weak, that they are not 
able to rise without assistance. A con- 
stant dropping of water from the navel 
may be percievable, and the colt becomes 
so much enfeebled that death will short- 
ly ensue. 



CAUSE. 

Sometimes after death, on examination, 
the liver was found to be decayed ; at 
other times the kidneys. Sometimes a 
blister will be found on one side of the 
lungs, the size of a hen's egg f and as clear 
as crystal, and filled with a fluid. At 
other times it is nothing but a general de- 
bility of the system. 



®4 TREATMENT. 

TREATMENT. 



The colt should be drenched with hall 
a teacupful of milk from the mare, which 
should .contain , 

2 teaspoonful of Ginger, 

1 tablespoonful of the best grape wine. 

A charge should be spread on the loins 
which should consist of 

J lb. of Tar, 

1 oz. of Kosin, 

1 oz. of Beeswax, 
boiled into pitch, the whole covered with 
tow or wool, and the colt should be well 
attended to. They will sometimes recov- 
er in a few days. 

One came under my observation, that 
recovered after live weeks, and was sold 
for an extra price four years afterwards. 



WOUNDS, '>> 

CURE OF WOUND8. 



Horses are sometime? exposed to much 
clanger, and will sometimes receive the 
most extraordinary wounds. For the 
last ten years I have used very little else. 
than a solution of the chloride of Lime, 
It is a sufe means of keeping out cold 
and inflammation. 

First clean the wound from all filthy 
matter, and bring it into a healthy 
state, and in this manner nature will 
heal it as soon as the best ointment in the 
world. 

Take chloride of Lime, 2 oz., dissolve 
it in 2 quarts of lukewarm water. Then 
wash out the wound o-nce a day. If it 
is deep and runs, a syringe should be at 
hand in order to force the composition 
to every part of it in the inside. Should 
proud flesh spring up at the entrance of 
the wound, pulverized blue vitro! should 
be applied. In twenty-four hours after 
the application, you can rub oft from one 
fourth to <>ne half inch. Apply it again, 



56 WOUNDS. 



until it gets below the surface of 
skin, then apply a little tincture of myr 



HINTS ABOUT FATTENING HOC 

Give your hogs an abundance of civ 
coal. If any should be foundered, ta 
2 ounces of Nitre, (salt-peter,) 1 oui 
of Barbadoes Aloes, pulverize it v« 
fine, and give the one fourth part oi 
every six hours. 



HINTS ABOUT SHEEP. 

Keep your sheep out of clover pastu; 
Scant blue grass is the pasture for she< | 
Salt once a week. Kaisethe floor of yc 
fold from four to six feet above the groui 
board it only on three sides, and simj 
lath it on the south side, and your she 
will be healthy and without distemper. 

Errata — On page eleven, in the iil 
line, instead of "entrance," read "whole 

finis. 



